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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE 

SOUL'S VOICE 



BY 
ELIZABETH VOSS 




BOSTON 

RICHARD G. BADGER 

THE GORHAM PRESS 



Copyright, 1920, by Elizabeth Voss 



All Rights Reserved 






©CU604156 



Made in the United States of America 



The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 



NOV IB 1920 



D 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Waves of the Ocean Wave in Ease . . 5 

The Poet 6 

A Pagan Child's Plea 7 

Inner Beauty 8 

Hope 9 

Autumn 10 

Mother 11 

Snow 12 

Swaying Arms 13 

The Joy of Noble Living 13 

A Rainbow 14 

Feet 15 

Delights . 16 

Richest Call 17 

Snow Clasped Mountain 18 

Reflection 19 

Idle Talk 20 

Life's Beauties 21 

True Nobility's Charm 22 

Nature's Call 23 

The Butterfly of Brown I Watched .... 24 

Salvia p 25 



Contents 

PAGE 

Lily of the Valley 26 

Violets 27 

The Rose 28 

Love 29 

The Cardinal Grosbeak 30 

Spring . 31 

Nature 32 

Carnations 33 

Expectancy 34 

Friendship 35 

Simple Pleasures 36 

Triolet 37 

Loveliest Sprites 38 

Joy 39 

Life and Love 40 



The waves of the ocean wave in ease, 
And it rises and falls like trees in the wind, 
And the Soul heaves in strife and is waveless in 
peace. 



THE SOU US VOICE 



THE POET 

The poet dreams his dreams 

In quiet solitude, 
Then makes them shed bright beams 

Upon a multitude. 
His dreams oft have their birth 
In something real of earth. 
In dreams come golden moments, 
And thoughts of priceless worth. 



A PAGAN CHILD'S PLEA 

To scarce eight summers have I grown, 

Yet many sorrows have I known, 
For child of pagan blood am I. 

My mother left me, glad to die, 
As ill she was — an hunger'd too ; 

My father gave us not our due ; 
He cared not to be true to us, 

And seldom was at home ; and thus 
I wandered lonely, 'round the town, 

Until I learn 'd a priest's renown, 
Who gave me food for mind and soul, 

And cheer'd the heart so deep in dole! 
Ah, many could be cheer'd, I wean, 

If kind of heart had spirit keen. 
We plead for help, for girls and boys, 

"Look not upon us just as toys," 
'Tis true our blood is wild and hot — 

But can'st thou say, "I love thee not?" 
Then leave us not to starve and die; 

Your brother love we seek, and try 
To live as creatures whole and clean, 

In finding God, on Whom we lean ! 
7 



The Soul's Voice 



INNER BEAUTY 

Each hour has a beauty all its own, 

Each fleeting moment sunbeams chase the gloom. 
The year's four seasons each in beauty shows 

That man can have a glory all in bloom. 
Each season has a glow of richer tints, 

As life grows full in deeds and good desires; 
A hymn of love, if noble tho'to our lay, 

Will swell the chorus of the heav'nly choirs ! 



The Soul's Voice 



HOPE 

My rainbow — wing of hope, 
'Mid gloom, and pain, thru life, 
A song that echoes love, 
Tho, bitter be my strife; 
For thee I live and gain — 
My star that shines above. 



The Soul's Voice 



AUTUMN 

Thine golden, crimson, brown — in turn 
Into my soul thy image burn. 
My lips are mute in ardent praise, 
No pen thy sylvan beauty trace ; 
Thus dye thy colors varied hues 
So deep, that lift my song in Muse; 
Yet silent thou within me lives, 
For autumn life its richness gives. 



IO 



The Soul's Voice 



MOTHER 

In wondrous uplifting, 

So grateful a thing, 
What wonders are felt — 

What wonders are dealt ! 

A blessing like mother, 

The earth holds none other; 
Her heart is so pure, 

Of Heaven she's sure. 

All loving not sought, 

Its offering a world. 
When just acts be few, 

Hast less than thy due? 

The world has no other 
That loves us like mother. 



II 



The Soul's Voice 



SNOW 

What my window could . . . 

I saw the trees much laden, 
Laden with white wooly snow 

(Like little chicks) ; 
Saplings and trees were taken 

In soft and clinging embrace, 
Bending low. 

Crystalline the fairy gem, 
My heart by this was shaken, 

Shaken with some conflict thought — 
Fairy masonry, frail emboss, 

Mind and heart did waken, 

That the frail and softer things, 
Come to naught. 



12 



The SouVs Voice 



Swaying arms 
Waving leaves 
Of God's trees: 
Sweeping clouds, 
Shining stars, 
Bursting clouds, 
Rippling streams, 
Life oft gleams. 



The Joy of noble living 

Is to strive 
In heart and soul being, 

To revive 
The spirit heart giving. 



13 



The Soul's Voice 



A RAINBOW 

A rainbow in the sky, to me, 

Is lovely to behold; 
Its high arch, tipped with golden light, 
Sustains the blending hues so bright, 
While it has its colors free 

In loving fold. 
'Tis like an opal, never dim 
So long as light is in the sky: 
Alas! it soon doth fade and die. 



H 



The Soul's Voice 



FEET 

Do you note on the street 

The busy feet 
And the weary feet? — 
All on errand 
Are bent! — 
Go their way to God 
And do not know it. 
'Tis odd! 



15 



The Soul's Voice 



DELIGHTS 

Music ev'rywhere! 
In the cooling air, 
In the silken singing tree, 
In the whispering wind ; 
Ever children's voices glee, 
Thou'l hear — and look 
In the bubbling brook 
Songs for ever. 
Ev'rywhere thou'lt find 
Music in the air: — 
This in life — I deem 
Dear delights of mind. 



16 



The Soul's Voice 



RICHEST CALL 

Richest call of things fair, 
None so rich as fresh air! 
Drooping as a world grace, 
As a bell. 

Chiming sweetest, calm air, 
Filling room of fair earth 
With the sweetest wild things, 
Wild flower air: 

Folding mind and heart, all 
Who will hearken her call, 
Richest call on fair earth 
Fresh air! 



17 



The Soul's Voice 



SNOW CLASPED MOUNTAIN 

Great, lofty mountain of splendor and purity! 

Enchanting, snow-crested, and laden 
With frozen glory, thine image reflecting, 

In lake and in tumbling stream. 
The Sun-god soon fades the rare beauty 

Of Maiden Estate; but its heart-searching fury 
Can ne'er thy deep beauty eschew. 

Which is thy form and thy splendor majestic 
That becks us in worship to come, 

To honor thy friendship; and e'en then so 
quickly, 
Our footsteps we follow, most gladly to find, 

A lesson ; 'tis rich both for soul and for mind. 



18 



The Soul's Voice 



REFLECTION 

O little flower, can I understand 
That thou, who art in beauty pure and free, 

Wert made by God, by that same holy hand 
Which me too made, but oft in bonds to be? 

Thou hast no soul to save; man's priceless one 
Wants all God's loving care, and daily heed 

To keep it lest to tares and thorns it run. 

Alone I'm naught, but God supplies my need; 

Alone thou couldst not pure in beauty live, 
O little flower; well I understand 

That God His daily care to thee must give — 
That man and thou are both in Wisdom's hand. 



19 



The SouVs Voice 



IDLE TALK 

As the thistle down 

Floats in the breeze 

With lithesome ease, 

It means naught: — 

Like the bee you fly 

Here and yon, 

From flower to flower 

In a little hour, 

As the sun-kissed snow, 

In vapor low, 

To sleep lies down; 

Thus— Idle Talk 

Floats down the walk. 



20 



The Soul's Voice 



LIFE'S BEAUTIES 

I hold the sunbeams in my hand 
One fleeting, golden moment; 

I hold them high, my heaven spann'd, 
For thus my need I understand. 

The rain and sunshine in my soul 
Bring forth the harvest yielding, 

As peans o'er my senses roll, 

Thus tears and laughter are my goal. 

I seize the moments rushing by, 

With pulses all aflaming; 
I hold them only in my eye, 

As up like golden darts they fly. 



21 



The Soul's Voice 



TRUE NOBILITY'S CHARM 



To- 



A woman countenance of time 

In tranquil beauty's charm; 

Her life a gladsome summer claimed 

And is today, in wholesome prime; 

In gladness of the sky, 

Admired and beloved flowers rare, 

That seldom can be named; 

As grandeur and simplicity vie. 

A stately salvia in her glow, 

As hyacinth's in her garden, 

A heart as warm as ripe roses; 

Dear lady's truth in deeds doth show. 



22 



The Soul's Voice 



NATURE'S CALL 

Hail the witching song of birds, 
Music to your heart and mind ; 
There 'twill leave a melody 
All the day, of sweetest kind. 

Hear the rustle of the leaves 
Singing love and praises free; 
Wafting them above the sky — 
Back again from heaven to thee. 

Hear the grasses whisper hope. 
Man, thy life and soul are high ; 
Nature has a song for all — 
Songs of cheer and bounteous joy 



23 



The SouVs Voice 



The butterfly of brown I watch'd, 
As it clung to the twig; 

Gently I touch'd the creature dull- 
Lo ! It crush'd ! 
'Twas but an autumn leaf. 



24 



The Soul's Voice 



SALVIA 

1 see the stately fall flower, 
Its flame a shining holly-bower; 
In warmth, of cardinal glow, 
Pure as cathedral window. 
It fills the heart with healthful glee; 
To all this flower's gift is free, 
A type of autumn's glowing season 
Of life, when man has lived in reason- 
As sunset's golden glories ope 
In skies of bright and tender hope. 



25 



The Soul's Voice 



LILY OF THE VALLEY 

The sweetest grace of flowers 
That blossom in the lea, 
Which pleasure gives to hours 
Is Lily-of-the-Valley. 
Its cup a modest droop, 
Its bell is as a dew, 
Which nestles close in coop 
Of cup in interview; 
As light of moon its dower 
Bequeaths to lovely flower. 



26 



The Soul's Voice 



VIOLETS 

Violets garnered by a loving heart 

Can but pleasure bring; 
As its fragrance in its humble art 

Makes the heart to sing. 
As the violet's sweetness humbly glows 

In its form to fill, 
Growing azure glory, sweetly shows 

Living in His will. 
We must gain our lesson humbly taught, 

In this pleasure flower, 
When we loving hold the violet, wrought 

In a golden hour. 



27 



The Soul's Voice 



THE ROSE 

My garden is a fairy land ; 
But most of all, I like my roses 
That are so full in sap of life. 
I plucked a rose with loving hand, 
Her spirit made her beauty rife. 

Then came apace the heavy clime, 
Thus withered sadly life of rose ; 
That in the "little bit of breath" 
Not giving forth her grace of thyme, 
Her dying spirit hindereth. 



28 



The Soul's Voice 



LOVE 

Love in soul of tender flow, 
Holy beauty burns her glow; 
Glows my love for thee alone 
Chaste as lily on her throne. 

Love is living, love's a flame, 
Always burning, never tame ; 
Always thinking how to do, 
Serving love and spirit new. 

Sorrow owes love's richest gain 
In the tension tight of pain, 
Flames a love that dyes my soul, 
Vibrant lifts toward my goal. 



29 



The Soul's Voice 



THE CARDINAL GROSBEAK 

My flame — radiant singer! 
The tree's sleeping head 
Less dull seems; thy red — 
Is't a fall leaf doth linger? 
In cold winter's fury 
Thy throat is still free, 
Thy song echoes lightly, 
I list to its trilling, 
The heavens' arch filling. 
Thy home it cheers brightly, 
And cold cannot chill 
Thy heart nor thy trill. 



30 



The Soul's Voice 



SPRING 

I fondly see each delicate fresh thing 

That lifts its head at coming of the spring; 

I hear the gentle voice of rustling leaves 

From tree and shrub to which the foliage cleaves. 

In hush, one feels the joy of spring's own heart, 

As from the earth her varied beauties start. 

How grateful, then, our human souls should be 

That Nature's pageantry we thus can see! 



31 



The SouVs Voice 



NATURE 

Nature — sun and moon glory 

Both impart, 
Showing thus thy grace and beauty 

To the heart 
That brings its love 

For love. 

Trees — majestic in their mien, 

Do instill 
Noble strength, courage strong. 

Beauty will 
Flowers ever teach 

For each. 

Birds — with sweet and cheerful song 

Work and play; 
From their music we may learn 

Every day — 
Springs of melody 

To see. 



32 



The Soul's Voice 



CARNATIONS 

These flowers are of loving hue 
Of sunset and of moonlight too; 
They are my treasure in delight 
Whose friendship measure starry bright; 
To mind a healthy token leaves 
Of beauty rife in soul, that cleaves 
In intimate unvoiced caress, 
Enamored mind and heart doth bless. 



33 



The Soul's Voice 



EXPECTANCY 

Can I when abroad, trace 
In crowds the soul face, 
That awaits response of mine? 
Can I the heart divine, 
When seeing in this maze 

The spiritual face! — 
Or have I far and nigh, 

From happier chance 

Its countenance 

Passed by? 



34 



The Soul's Voice 



FRIENDSHIP 

I trust thee, Friend, and in that Trust 

Lies my reward. 
With simple faith in thee, 

I can retard 
The swell of pride; the "cloud-cups brim" 

With thee, and know 
In spirit love that's true, 

To wing thru Heaven's glow 
With thee, to Him above — 

Together — 
In hope, to reach celestial bliss 

Forever. 



35 



The Soul's Voice 



SIMPLE PLEASURES 

Chiefest among my pleasures 

Is Nature's voice — my best. 
Still others seem in measure 

To calm my lonely rest. 
Music and books I treasure, 

And friends, well tried and true; 
God's sunshine brings a message 

To me from Heaven's blue. 
In calm and storm I love to be 

With friends who ever smile on me ! 



36 



The Soul's Voice 



TRIOLET 

When first I knew, I did not see 

That life would prove so stern a father; 

I lived so lightly, bright and free. 

When first I knew, I did not see 

In life's advance no halt must be, 

But moving ever onward rather. 

When first I knew, I did not see 

That life would prove so stern a father. 



37 



The Soul's Voice 



LOVELIEST SPRITES 

Little wren and goldfinch, 
Bigger scarce than one inch ! 
Trill ye, trill ye, inch-birds, 
Songs are your true heart-words. 

Ye forever, Vim o' spring, 
Twitter joyously and sing; 
Sunlight sprites in sun-song 
Lore of joy a life long. 



38 



The SouVs Voice 



JOY 

My heart is so joyous, my joy doth escape 
In words and in music uplifted in praise ; 
Adoring the beauty I see in the world, 
In all that surrounds me, I sing with delight. 
Wise Nature's my teacher, a child is a poem ; 
My heart is so joyous — my joy is my life! 



39 



The Soul's Voice 



LIFE AND LOVE 

To love is to live 'mid gardens of beauty, 

To love is the soul of progress and duty; 

No power can hinder the current of love, 

No ocean can drown this flame from above; 

To love and to think, to dream, is to live, 

Like music and poetry, love comes to give 

Its beauty's inspiring things to this life; 

And love brings the dawn of peace thru-out strife. 



r 40 



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